Illinois’ success at keeping, and attracting, companies remains under scrutiny — especially since Sears and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange won tax breaks in late 2011 after threatening to leave the state.

On top of that, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity was recently whacked in a state audit for weakness in administering grants.

MANAR “We need to retool this agency and we need to give it the tools it needs to succeed, because we have high unemployment in too many parts of this state.”

The governor would appoint a board of directors to handle bureaucratic functions. And a new, not-for-profit corporation would take on duties like grants. DCEO interim director Adam Polletsays that raises conflict of interest concerns.

POLLET “What will it look like for a company to be applying to the Authority for tax credits when one of the members of the Board of Directors is a competitor? How will that play out?”